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Mazda Protege5

The Mazda Protege5 is a five-passenger station wagon that Mazda manufactured from 2001 to 2003. It represents the hatchback version of the Mazda Protege during the eighth generation of the Familia line.

In 2001, Mazda introduced the Mazda Protege5 with a 1.5-liter engine and three doors to be released as a 2002 model. Since it serves as the station wagon version of the Protege, it bears a great resemblance to its predecessor. The 2001 Mazda Protege is a two-door sedan.

To help it create its own image for 2002, Mazda designers added large round fog lights, side sills, and a rear roof spoiler. The seating expanded to accommodate five people with the addition of two rear doors and a 60/40-split rear folding seat. For 2003, Mazda added some new options, including black leather seats, a sport-tuned suspension, and a manual-mode automatic transmission system. A five-speed manual transmission comes standard and a four-speed automatic transmission remains optional. The Mazda3/Axela replaced the Familia line for 2004.

About the Mazda Protege5

The Mazda Protege5, a sporty station wagon, focuses more on sportiness than performance. It handles superbly well and rides smoothly. It also offers a comfortable cabin with adequate head and leg room. Some find cabin space lacking for a station wagon, measuring 19.8 cubic feet with the rear seats upright. Lowering the seats increases it to 38.2 cubic feet.

Mazda Protege5 Features

The 2003 Mazda Protege5 serves as a five-passenger hatchback version of the Protege. Special side gills, front and rear dams, and large fog headlights give it a distinctive look. Mazda emphasizes its goals of producing a vehicle with comfortable seating, cargo flexibility, and sporty style by adding comfortable cloth bucket seats, a 60/40-split rear bench seat, power accessories, air-conditioning, a rear spoiler, and a sport-tuned chassis.

This car only comes in one trim and offers a few packages. It contains a two-liter, overhead dual-cam, inline-four engine that produces 130 horsepower and 153 lb-ft of torque. It has a McPherson strut front suspension with coil springs and an independent strut rear suspension with coil springs. This car handles extremely well and the acceleration makes good use of the 130 horses, especially with the five-speed manual transmission.

Mazda Protege5 Evolution

In 2001, Mazda had two problems to overcome: combat the lagging hatchback sales in the U.S. market and make them more appealing to the younger market. It decided to create a hatchback version of the Protege to revive lagging sales of the compact sedan. Sales for hatchbacks still fare well in Asian and European markets, but American buyers show little interest. It launched in early 2002 as a three-door hatchback. It contains a two-liter engine that produces 130 horsepower and 135 lb-ft of torque. It also features a sport-tuned chassis and displays better handling than its predecessor in aggressive driving situations.

For the 2002 model year, Mazda redesigned the Protege5 by expanding the wheelbase, creating space for five passengers, and adding two rear doors. In an effort to lure younger buyers, Mazda gives the Protege5 six youth-inspired colors and restyles the rear end. The front bucket cloth-covered seats offer comfort and support. This model still uses the same two-liter engine. It has a 60/40-split rear bench seat that folds down to yield a maximum 38.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

Mazda gives the 2002 Protege5 powerful brakes; an anti-locking braking system; a sports-tuned suspension; and a two-liter, dual overhead cam, inline-four engine. The ride is comfortable and the interior feels welcoming and secure. The suspension provides a smooth ride over pavement. The cargo area is small, providing only 19.8 cubic feet of storage space with the rear seats up. With the 60/40-split rear seat reclined, the cargo area increases to 39.2 cubic feet.

The Mazda Protege handles very well on the road and offers a comfortable ride. The sport-tuned MacPherson front strut suspension and independent rear strut suspension allows for a smooth ride. It comes with a tilt steering wheel, 16-inch wheels, air-conditioning, power accessories, a rear trunk release, keyless entry, and airbags.

The 2003 Mazda Protege only receives some minor changes to its available options and an additional new color. Standard equipment for this car includes cruise control, a remote trunk release, power windows, power doors, and power locks, air-conditioning, cruise control, and a tilting leather-wrapped steering wheel. You can also get a moonroof if you purchase the optional, dashboard-integrated, six-disc CD changer.

In 2004, Mazda decided to end production of its entire Familia line, which included the Protege5. The Mazda3 replaced the line that same year.